I spent a month making an attempt a $150 anti-aging skincare wand utilized by celebrities like Pedro Pascal and Reese Witherspoon. It didn't dwell as much as the hype.

  • The Solawave skincare wand is wildly in style on Instagram, TikTok, and amongst celebrities.
  • It claims to assist with pimples and high-quality strains by utilizing pink gentle remedy and “microcurrents.”
  • I attempted it for a month and noticed no outcomes. 2 dermatologists I spoke to are additionally skeptical of the product.

As an grownup in her early 30s, a constant skincare routine has made an enormous distinction in decreasing the spicy combo of rogue pimples and high-quality strains on my brow. Nonetheless, I dwell with the hope of a miracle product (that is not prohibitively costly or time-consuming) giving me the poreless, dewy pores and skin I see throughout TikTok.

That is why I used to be so excited to strive the Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand with Purple Mild Remedy, which sounded identical to what I used to be searching for. Utilizing pink gentle remedy, delicate electrical currents, facial therapeutic massage, and heat, it was speculated to depuff my face, assist serums soak up higher, and easy high-quality strains, darkish spots, and pimples.

For a one-time payment of $150 (which Insider paid), all I would have to do is run it over my face for 5 minutes a day for leads to two weeks, in accordance with the web site.

If any a part of me was skeptical, it was shortly tempered by all of the celebrities and stylists who use it — together with Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Coolidge, Lil Nas X, Megan Fox, Sydney Sweeney, Priyanka Chopra, and Pedro Pascal. Plus, there have been a colossal quantity of constructive critiques on social media and in magnificence publications.

However after a month of making an attempt, I am so sorry however: I do not suppose this works — at the very least for me. Let’s unpack.

The Solawave wand in its box.

The Solawave wand in its field.

Julia Pugachevsky



The directions have been complicated and contained obscure warnings in regards to the dangers

Math is not my robust swimsuit (therefore why I selected writing as a occupation), however from the very starting some issues in regards to the Solawave simply did not add up for me.

The directions say to spend 1-2 minutes operating the wand over every face “area,” however what counts as a area? Is one cheek a area, or do each depend as one? It is prompt that everybody begins out utilizing the Solawave for less than 5 minutes a day, but when I spend 1-2 minutes on all sides of my face and neck, that is extra like 8-16 minutes, relying on what counts as a area and how briskly I used to be supposed to maneuver the wand throughout my face (which I used to be additionally confused about). When you begin utilizing the Solawave extra regularly, the handbook says you need to use the product wherever from 5-Half-hour a day, which is a large time distinction.

The instruction manual that came with the Solawave.

The instruction handbook that got here with the Solawave.

Julia Pugachevsky



However what actually made my ears perk up was the suggestion to apply it to my neck, however keep away from the larynx and throat space — although it is unclear why, and what the dangers are. I am assuming that it is because some researchers have been involved that LED gentle can affect the operate of the thyroid gland as a result of the pores and skin on the neck is so skinny, although current analysis has discovered that this is not a difficulty. However to play it protected, I prevented utilizing it on my neck.

I seemed on the web site and discovered I am additionally technically not speculated to apply it to my breasts, groin, eyelids, or beneath my forehead bone (I wasn’t planning to). And if I apply it to my chest, it may allegedly disrupt my coronary heart’s pure rhythm, which is deadly, in accordance with the model’s web site.

I attempted utilizing it for a month and noticed nearly no outcomes

Solawave eyes before and after

I feel my under-eyes look much less puffy?

Julia Pugachevsky



At first, I purchased the wand by itself. My logic was if the extra $32 really helpful serum was completely essential, it might include the wand. Plus, whereas the Solawave FAQ says to make use of its branded “activating serum” for greatest outcomes, you need to use any hydrating topical “with conductive substances resembling hyaluronic acid and/or aloe vera.” 

For the Solawave to work, it must be utilized to moist pores and skin, so I used it after cleaning my face and making use of moisturizer. Whereas it might periodically flip off, it did nonetheless really feel soothing — apart from once I’d get to my brow and it might snag on my hair.

I did benefit from the heat side, which instantly made my cheeks really feel drier and tighter. At first, this made me imagine this gadget was actually going to alter my pores and skin, however then I remembered my face additionally feels this manner once I pressure pasta or blow-dry my hair. It doesn’t suggest my flesh is any firmer.

After two weeks of utilizing the wand thrice per week (as prompt), I noticed no modifications. Alright, I believed, I am going to get the right serum and ramp up my use on daily basis for 2 weeks.

The Renew Advanced Activating Serum (which makes use of hyaluronic acid and aloe vera) smelled nice, like peach iced tea, and did make the Solawave simpler to make use of: There was no extra spontaneous turning off or hair tugging. Sadly, my pores and skin remained principally the identical.

The one factor I did suppose the wand helped with was depuffing my eyes as a result of it functioned like a vibrating jade curler or gua sha, and will have helped with lymphatic drainage. However a typical gua sha and jade curler set prices $12, in comparison with the $180+ I had now spent on the Solawave. 

The science behind it’s doubtful

To verify I wasn’t lacking something, I requested Dr. Erum Ilyas, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group, her ideas on the Solawave. 

“I’ve not been in a position to perceive how this product might have tangible outcomes by passing over the pores and skin,” she stated, noting that the majority pink gentle gadgets are supposed to be held in a single spot for any outcomes. Many LED masks, for instance, must be left on for 10-Quarter-hour for 3-5 instances per week.

Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, an affiliate medical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, expressed comparable skepticism. Whereas some research present that LED gentle remedy can scale back wrinkles and darkish spots, he stated that they contain intense lights in medical doctors’ workplaces. At-home gadgets, in accordance with him, “are definitely not as highly effective.”

I can not say that the Solawave positively would not work — solely that it did not work for me. When you nonetheless need to strive it, or just like the ritual of it, it is best to go for it. I take Mercury Retrograde and Jap European superstitions severely, so I am by no means going to guage somebody for committing to one thing on the off-chance it truly makes a distinction.

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